Man Gets Life For Rape, Killing Of Woman Who Sought His Aid

A first-time felon was sentenced to life in prison Monday for raping and murdering his friend`s mother after the woman, afraid for her safety, asked him to walk her to a nearby bus stop.

Carlos Cantu, 21, of 1920 W. 21st Pl., was convicted in March of raping and strangling Victoria Garcia, 38, and then dropping a 50-pound concrete block on her in September of 1986.

Garcia, a mother of two, was not able ``to protect herself from her protector,`` said Assistant State`s Atty. Thomas Rieck in arguing for the death penalty.

``It`s hard to believe you raped your friend`s mother, a middle-aged woman,`` said Cook County Criminal Court Judge Christy Berkos, who imposed the life sentence. ``It was senseless murder.``

Garcia, who died from strangulation and trauma, was found under boxes and other debris at the rear basement entrance to 1950 W. 21st St. eight hours after the murder.

Rieck, who prosecuted the case with George Velcich, said Cantu admitted killing the woman after initially claiming that three men had dragged her away from him.

Garcia was on her way home to 1844 W. Cullerton St. from a party at about 3 a.m. when she recognized Cantu on the street and asked him to escort her to the bus stop. Cantu agreed but instead took her to the basement stairwell, knocked her down and raped her, Rieck said.

Though he did not admit strangling her, Cantu confessed to lifting a piece of concrete rock to eye level and dropping it on her as she lay on the ground, Rieck said.